Garp and Roger both turned their heads toward Imu's direction at the same time. They were thinking the exact same thing.
So powerful… Who is that?
They knew Rocks was there, but who was he fighting? The Haki clashing in that direction was overwhelming, suffocating. Even from this far away, the pressure made their skin crawl.
They looked at each other for a brief moment, understanding passing between them without words. Then, without attacking one another, they started running toward the place where Rocks and Imu were fighting.
They had developed this strange, unspoken tactical understanding over time.
Hoosh.
The marines and pirates were drenched in sweat, their bodies straining with every collision. Sometimes it was Garp versus Roger, sometimes it was Rocks' pirates clashing with the God knights, and sometimes it was Imu and Rocks exchanging devastating blows themselves.
The pirates had come here for treasure and Shakky, completely unaware that the entire event was a trap set by the World Government to capture them all.
Everyone fought desperately, praying that they could somehow survive this nightmare.
Boom! Boom!
Explosions rocked the island one after another, sending massive shockwaves tearing through the sky.
"Ahhh! Look! The sky is splitting in two!" shouted a pirate—bald, with an eagle tattoo etched across his scalp.
"This is unreal! I don't want to stay here anymore! Just run!" he screamed, panic flooding his voice.
His words ignited chaos.
Pirates around him began fleeing in every direction, charging forward wildly, abandoning any thought of treasure or pride.
"Block them! Don't let them escape! This is our best chance!" a vice admiral shouted.
The marines obeyed in fear. They were terrified themselves, but they couldn't allow the pirates to escape.
Boom! Boom!
And so, a bloodbath began between the marines and the pirates.
Some pirates managed to escape. Others were struck down. Survival was the only thing on their minds. Those who reached their ships didn't look back even once, they fled from the Massacre without hesitation.
"Hah… hah…" Dragon panted heavily as he fired bullets at the pirates' legs, aiming to neutralize them without killing them so they could be captured alive.
He was still young. Still immature.
---
Crack!
The earth fractured violently.
Suddenly, Rocks felt an invisible force wrap around his body. He could still move, but his speed dropped drastically.
BOOM!
Unable to break free, he raised his sword to guard.
BOOM!
Rocks was sent flying backward, crashing through mountains one after another.
"Well, since you don't understand your situation," Imu said with a malicious smile, "let me remind you why I'm the king, and you are not."
"Get him," Imu ordered.
Boom! Crack!
The moment the command left his mouth, demons crawled out from the Abyss. They rushed toward Rocks madly, driven by a single purpose.
Obey.
Obey their lord.
That was their existence. Their reason.
Rocks forced himself up from the ground, panting heavily.
"What the hell is this?!" he yelled.
The demons had already surrounded him.
"What happened to you guys?!" Rocks shouted again, but there was no response.
The demons were members of the Davy clan.
Swip!
One demon lunged at his head, growling viciously.
Eek!
Rocks dodged instantly and slashed the demon apart, but its body regenerated in seconds.
"What the hell?!" Rocks exclaimed.
There was no time to think. The other demons charged, trying to tear him apart.
"What happened to you all?! This is because of him, right?! He did something to you guys!" Rocks yelled, desperate for any response.
Nothing.
They're my kin… my ancestors… my friends… my family…
Do I really have to kill them?
His heart pounded.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced.
A woman holding a child.
Eris—his wife.
And their son.
"Rocks, look at him. He's so cute," Eris said, giggling.
"This is our child. Yours and mine. What should we name him?" she asked softly.
"Ah… haha… I don't know," Rocks replied, thinking. "How about… Teach?"
"Teech?" Eris murmured.
"I see… do you hear that, my child? Your name is Teach now. Davy D. Teach," she said gently.
The baby didn't understand—but he giggled.
"Aww, you're so cute," Eris said, pressing her cheek to his.
Back in reality, Rocks swung his sword mercilessly.
Each strike blasted demons away, destroying the surrounding land.
"Screw you! I'm not dying here!" Rocks roared, his eyes blazing.
Imu hovered in the sky, watching.
He had changed a bit.
Massive dark wings, black mixed with deep red, spread from his back, leaking a malicious aura.
Hoosh!
Imu vanished, then shot toward Rocks.
He spun mid-air, his leg coated in pitch-black Haki, lightning crackling violently.
"Hah… hah…" Rocks panted, sweat and blood pouring down his face.
Before he could recover—
BOOM!
Imu appeared infront him, and kicked him in the gut.
Rocks flew backward, crashing through mountains, blood spilling from his mouth.
Before he could breathe—
BOOM!
Imu appeared above him and punched his chest.
Pffft!
Blood burst from Rocks' mouth, eyes, and nose.
Boom!
Rocks figure was slammed into the ground, forming a massive crater.
"Ugh…" Rocks tried to move, but he couldn't move at all.
Boom!
Imu punched the air, clearing the smoke.
"So… I guess you finally understand your situation," Imu said.
Rocks stayed silent. Imu didn't wait for his reply, and began speaking.
"You see, Rocks, I'll tell you why you can't be king. You see, there are two ways to rule a kingdom. There are others, of course, but I will focus on these," Imu said, his voice calm, eyes fixed on Rocks.
"One way is fear, the other is love."
"Seven hundred years ago, Joy Boy ruled his kingdom with love and kindness. And then there was me, ruling with fear and domination," Imu continued. Using his powers, he suppressed Rocks to the ground. Rocks was already weakened and couldn't resist.
"Our ideologies were completely opposite, as were our powers. His power was meant to liberate, mine to bind. And ,so a great war happened and I emerged victorious," Imu said with a cold smile. A red light flashed in his eyes.
"Ha? And how did you defeat him? By despicable means? Hah!" Rocks shot back, still unwilling to give up.
"The means don't matter, Rocks. What matters is who won. History is written by the winnes, not the losers. I am obviously the winner, so I'll write whatever I want, but that's not the point here." Imu closed the distance between them, standing just a few meters away.
"Do you understand what I'm saying? You don't have the charisma, the love, the ability to liberate. Nor do you have the power of control or domination," Imu said, chuckling lightly.
"You are strong, yes. You can subdue powerful people, and you gathered the most notorious pirates in the world. But in the end, they can betray you anytime. You don't have absolute control. You couldn't save your wife , you couldn't save your child either," Imu said. Slowly, he extended his hand toward Rocks.
"I'll give you one last chance. Take my hand. Work for me. Submit to me. If you do, you won't just save yourself. you'll also be able live with your wife and child. So, what's your choice?" He stood so close that Rocks could feel the pressure of his presence.
The battlefield fell silent.
Should I submit?
Should I bow to a devil?
No.
BOOM!
Rocks suddenly pulled his sword with all his strength.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
His blade cut through Imu's body, splitting him in half.
"Never! Ya rat, I won't submit to you no matter what! The will of D will never die! If not me, then someone else will, but they will surely fulfill the promise. Your so-called control won't last long!" Rocks shouted, maintaining a grin on his face.
"So this is your answer, Rocks D. Xebec. Your era ends now. No one like you will rise again," Imu said, ignoring the fact his body was sliced in half.
Tentacles shot from his body toward Rocks, piercing his chest instantly.
"Hey! What is this? This doesn't hurt at all!" Rocks exclaimed, confused.
"Haha… Domi Reverie," Imu said simply, two words carrying unimaginable weight.